VFR400 tyres and sports tyre vs sport tourer warm up.

[racefactory]

There are limited choices for tyres on viffers. I do mainly weekend thrash-abouts, rain or shine, but also a little bit of commuting.

I have considered dunlop GPR100's but they don't make a front in 120/60 so then i considered the GPR70/GPRA10 but the tread grooves on the GPRa10's are worrying me and i have read that people don't reccommend them for the wet at all.

This lead me to bridgestone where i have found the BT90 and the BT92. I have heard nothing but good about the BT90 and was further reccommended them by Christlost in cycle treads. Very sticky tyres on par with GPR70/GPRa10 (an f3 racing tyre choice) but last longer and have heard are good in wet too. BT92 being the sport tourer equivalent, also have heard good things about these and plenty of tread for the rain performance.

I am not sure whether to get the more sporty 90's or the less sporty 92's because i understand there is still a mix of thoughts upon whether you will get better performance out of less hardcore tyre due to better temperatures achieved on the roads vs wrong temps for more sporty tyres. Some people think that even if the sporty tyres are not being pushed to high temps they still are better off in performance however.

Questions are- who has has experience with any of these tyres or any other NC30/35/riffer/viffer tyres?

More sporty or less sporty? 92's or 90's? Are the warmup times/running temps of the slightly less sporty tyres going to have a better performance on the roads than the more sporty tyres with possibly longer warm up times/different designed running temps?

[sugilite]

Heyya,
I had an NC24 VFR400 (1989) I had commuter type tyres on it, cannot remember exact type (metz I think)

I commuted with occasional sports rides and even the odd race and hill climb using said tyres. (even won the hill climb and street race) In short, I would not hesitate to go the longer wearing option as it's not like they make enormous power thats going to break the back end loose.

Great bike BTW :yes:

[lostinflyz]

how hard are you going???

the bt090 and gpr70/100's are very similar and very sticky. unless you ride like a mad bastard then i reckon there pretty unneccasary. but for hard road riding or track days there ideal. the gpr100's do come in a 120/60. ive found the gprs pretty average in the rear but gorgious on the front but thats all track work (and dry)

the bt92's will be sweet. but having said that i find confidence in having the sticky rubber esp. on the road. its always nice to know its there i guess. but it shouldn't matter. kinda comes down to your dosh and your preferences.

[racefactory]

how hard are you going???

the bt090 and gpr70/100's are very similar and very sticky. unless you ride like a mad bastard then i reckon there pretty unneccasary. but for hard road riding or track days there ideal. the gpr100's do come in a 120/60. ive found the gprs pretty average in the rear but gorgious on the front but thats all track work (and dry)

the bt92's will be sweet. but having said that i find confidence in having the sticky rubber esp. on the road. its always nice to know its there i guess. but it shouldn't matter. kinda comes down to your dosh and your preferences.


any idea what the GPR70/GPRa10 like in the wet? I am thinking of getting GPRa10 front and GPR100 rear but want more info because of so many mixed opinions on this matter. Personally with not much tread it looks kind of dodgy.

I have emailed dunlop and they said there is no GPR100 in 120.60.17 in NZ so that's interesting- have you had one?

[MSTRS]

http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/photos/tire-tyre-guide/Bridgestone-BT45.htm
People who use these tyres on smaller to mid-size bikes get an excellent trot.
Something to consider?

[racerhead]

Ive had bridgestone bt 090's on my nc35 and have found them very very good in all conditions. Ive used them on standing water wet track through to bone dry hot track and same on the road. They gave me great confidence because whenever they did start to slide it was very predictable and easily controlled. The only thing I could say against them is when they are cold they are pretty slippy but they do warm up pretty quick, like 5-10kms. Before the 090's I had some kind of metzler on it and found them horrible unless it was bone dry. Hope this helps

[racefactory]

Ive had bridgestone bt 090's on my nc35 and have found them very very good in all conditions. Ive used them on standing water wet track through to bone dry hot track and same on the road. They gave me great confidence because whenever they did start to slide it was very predictable and easily controlled. The only thing I could say against them is when they are cold they are pretty slippy but they do warm up pretty quick, like 5-10kms. Before the 090's I had some kind of metzler on it and found them horrible unless it was bone dry. Hope this helps

Hey man thanks it does help. How did they last??? Since they are same as GPR70/a10 for softness... i'm worried they will last fuck all on the rear.

[racefactory]

http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/photos/tire-tyre-guide/Bridgestone-BT45.htm
People who use these tyres on smaller to mid-size bikes get an excellent trot.
Something to consider?

thanks mate but that tyre is not viffer sized.

[racerhead]

Hey man thanks it does help. How did they last??? Since they are same as GPR70/a10 for softness... i'm worried they will last fuck all on the rear.

I got pretty good milage out of mine, cant remember exact milage but was pretty happy for the grip levels they gave. One thing with them though is when used for road riding the back squared off pretty quick but most times on the road I was just cruising and not really using much lean. For 1 front tyre I used 1.5 rears which included 2 trackdays at a quick pace and a good bit of road riding.
I was talking to a guy with dunlop alpha 10's on a vfr and he found them a totaly different tyre compared to the 090's but he only used his bike on track and found the big difference in how the bike steered due to a different shape.

[nico]

i know lots bag em but i use shinkos on my vfrr and im quite hapy with em got 16000km out of a set im using the 005 touring but the 007 sport would probally be a bit softer worth a go but end of the day it you riding so your call:scooter: forgot 2 add i comuit every day and go on a weekend joy ride quite often rain or shine.

[racefactory]

i know lots bag em but i use shinkos on my vfrr and im quite hapy with em got 16000km out of a set im using the 005 touring but the 007 sport would probally be a bit softer worth a go but end of the day it you riding so your call:scooter: forgot 2 add i comuit every day and go on a weekend joy ride quite often rain or shine.

I'm on the 005 on the rear and 006 podium on the front at the moment...

[westie]

I had an rvf with 090's advised by mega dave and chrislost.
They rocked. Wet or dry.

[racefactory]

I had an rvf with 090's advised by mega dave and chrislost.
They rocked. Wet or dry.

How long did you get out of them mate?

I want something that will wear out roughly same time... i reckon that 090 won't do 5k on the rear...

[westie]

Will never know. Sold the bike to get r6.
You could get a tyre thats gonna last the distance or get one that performs well when going hard.
Personally I would go for performance rather than compare your life to a couple of extra kms and dollars

[racefactory]

Will never know. Sold the bike to get r6.
You could get a tyre thats gonna last the distance or get one that performs well when going hard.
Personally I would go for performance rather than compare your life to a couple of extra kms and dollars

Yes- i agree, for the front tyre. Rear tyre it's just not neccessary it's easy to control most losses in traction.. and wears out WAY to quick. As long as i have total confidence in front. But another reason is that i would like to have the back let go before the front, rather than at the same time or front letting go before... that is real bad..

[westie]

Yes- i agree, for the front tyre. Rear tyre it's just not neccessary it's easy to control most losses in traction.. and wears out WAY to quick. As long as i have total confidence in front. But another reason is that i would like to have the back let go before the front, rather than at the same time or front letting go before... that is real bad..


Lol that may be an issue for you because of using sub mega tyres.

[racefactory]

:confused: what ya mean?

[vtec]

What he's saying is that you are on shinkos, and the angle you are losing traction at isn't huge, and thus is a lot easier to react to and control before you hit the ground. Still I agree with your theory. I would go BT090's. But GPRA10 front and GPR100 rear will be good and last plenty.

Have you looked at the Michelin Pilot Powers'? Don't know if they do an 18" rear though.

[racefactory]

They don't as far as i'm aware so no not really.

[racefactory]

To avoid starting a new thread:

Ok so just got myself some second hand BT090 tyres from cycle treads. Should be fitting them within few days.

question: I got told by someone that you also need to scrub second hand tyres in? I can't see the logic behind this, can someone explain this please? Couldnt find anything on internet either...

[lostinflyz]

To avoid starting a new thread:

Ok so just got myself some second hand BT090 tyres from cycle treads. Should be fitting them within few days.

question: I got told by someone that you also need to scrub second hand tyres in? I can't see the logic behind this, can someone explain this please? Couldnt find anything on internet either...

theres no need to but a casual ride to check them overs a bright idea. often they can be covered in oil or brake fluid or god knows what else, and to check for punctures leaks or other misc. shit that may kill you. hahaha.

[westie]

Good work. You'll love those 090's. And you should start trying some wheelies

[racefactory]

Good work. You'll love those 090's. And you should start trying some wheelies

... the first gear does about 110kph... Maybe another bike...

New Gymkhana club (this kind of thing- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QN3z1HhveBk&feature=related) http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/group.php?groupid=74

[westie]

... the first gear does about 110kph... Maybe another bike...

New Gymkhana club (this kind of thing- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QN3z1HhveBk&feature=related) http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/group.php?groupid=74

Your vfr is the perfect bike for wheelies.
Pull them up at 5000rpm with a push pull then stand up style. Well balanced bike for it too.:niceone: